Chapter 632: I Shall Tell You

Only after a long while did Lu Yibei awaken from her deep sleep. The first thing she noticed was that she could not feel her limbs.

Her vision gradually cleared like mist dispersing, and sensation finally returned.

Then, as Lu Yibei struggled upright among the shattered, collapsed rocks, agony shot through every limb and bone, sending her tumbling back into the rain-soaked mud.

In a certain sense, she had died thousands of times.

Bisection, explosions… She had experienced every imaginable manner of death, and her tolerance for pain far exceeded that of an ordinary person. Yet this still hurt so badly that she could scarcely endure it.

To her surprise, however, while her body hurt, it also felt unexpectedly comfortable from head to toe.

The hidden injuries left by the Hundred-Armed Giant’s power lingering in her body, as well as the latent risks created when she used Wang Yingying’s flesh to reconstruct herself, had miraculously vanished by more than half.

It felt inexplicably like a ten-year cerebral thrombosis had just been cured.

Could Ancestor have used that strike deliberately? Lu Yibei wondered.

“Are you all right?”

At the voice, Lu Yibei looked up and saw a pair of pink Hello Kitty flip-flops, fair and delicate toes, and long, toned legs.

Her gaze traveled higher and reached a familiar face.

Huá Sāng’s long black hair, dampened by either rain or sweat, lay somewhat disheveled against the side of her face.

“…”

What are those flip-flops made of?

How did they survive a battle like that without so much as a scratch?

Are they made from the same stuff as the Hulk’s shorts?

Lu Yibei made several silent quips. At times like this, she always focused on the strangest things.

“I’m fine…” Lu Yibei replied weakly. The moment she opened her mouth, the taste of iron filled it, and she vomited a large mouthful of blood.

The dark-red blood struck the wet ground and immediately released a wisp of white smoke.

You call that fine? Huá Sāng stared at Lu Yibei’s bloodless face, her mouth and nose smeared with filthy blood, and knitted her brows.

After dealing with Hu Chuan, she had seen that Qing Ji had not vanished and continued attacking Lu Yibei. At first, she had assumed Qing Ji merely wanted to discipline her.

This inveterate liar, who scarcely spoke a single true word, really did need a proper lesson.

Only when Qing Ji unleashed that sword strike did Huá Sāng abruptly realize that he might not be trying to discipline Lu Yibei at all. He might be trying to purge the unworthy member of his lineage.

In that case, she had no choice but to intervene in their “family affairs.”

After all, she could not simply watch Lu Yibei get beaten to death.

Although…

She was not confident she could withstand Qing Ji’s sword either.

Elsewhere…

Qing Ji held his sword in one hand, level at his side, and walked toward Lu Yibei. Seeing Huá Sāng suddenly stand in his path, he smiled faintly and continued forward at an unhurried pace.

Halfway there, he abruptly stopped, changed direction, and walked toward the Shuishu Shou (Water Savage Beast), which had stuck its pert rump in the air and buried its massive head between its forehooves as it trembled.

It rather liked Qing Ji. After all, throughout the long years, he had been one of the very few humans on Zhenwu Mountain who could play happily with it.

But there was plainly something wrong with Qing Ji today.

It could not say what was wrong, but it could tell that he was at least not in a condition for happy play.

A Qing Ji who could not play happily was terrifying indeed.

Qing Ji reached the Shuishu Shou, bent down, and raised a hand to smooth its mane. “Old friend, it’s been a long time…” he said softly.

The Shuishu Shou stiffened at his voice, then released a strange “Awoo!” Lightning erupted around its body as it leaped into the air.

And then…

Qing Ji caught it by the tail and dragged it back to the ground.

“Why are you running? Am I so frightening?” Qing Ji examined the Shuishu Shou for a while and said evenly, “You’re still exactly the same. You haven’t changed at all… Did you never try the method I taught you?”

By rights, the Shuishu Shou possessed a special power and talent only slightly inferior to a haunting of Gou Meng’s level. If it wished to leave, the Great Pure Palace could not possibly keep it there.

In a certain sense, the Shuishu Shou that remained in the Great Pure Palace was no different from a caged bird.

Qing Ji had once thought the same. After gradually growing familiar with the Shuishu Shou all those years ago, he had devised several methods and taught them to the creature, hoping to help it obtain “freedom.”

“Whimper…” The Shuishu Shou looked at Qing Ji with aggrieved, pitiful eyes and released a low sound like a plea for mercy.

It looked like an incorrigible naughty kid who had made trouble again and been caught on the spot by the only person capable of controlling it.

“…” Qing Ji stared at it for a moment and sighed silently. “Forget it. As long as you’re happy.”

The freedom others imagined was not necessarily what the Shuishu Shou wanted.

It had stayed on Zhenwu Mountain for so many years, frolicking every day like a foolish roe deer. That meant it truly liked being there.

What it liked was what suited it best.

With that thought, Qing Ji raised a hand and gently stroked the Shuishu Shou’s enormous head.

As though sensing what Qing Ji was thinking, the Shuishu Shou finally lowered its guard, leaned into his arms, and rubbed against him affectionately.

Then…

As though suddenly recalling something important, the Shuishu Shou jerked its head up and looked from side to side, searching its surroundings for something.

Noticing its movement, Qing Ji tilted his head and asked, “Are you looking for little Yanzhi?”

The Shuishu Shou looked at Qing Ji and nodded.

It remembered the young cook who had been inseparable from Qing Ji. She always made it delicious food unavailable in the Great Pure Palace.

After Qing Ji and Lu Yanzhi left the Great Pure Palace, it could no longer eat those delicacies. For a time, it had even considered following Qing Ji’s method to complete its power, assume human form, and descend the mountain in search of good food.

The thought had not lasted long before it happily tossed it to the back of its mind.

From a certain perspective, calling the Shuishu Shou Country Z’s foremost laid-back haunting would not be an exaggeration.

“She…” Qing Ji gently stroked its silky fur and gazed into the distance. “She’s been gone for a long time.”

The Shuishu Shou looked up at him and froze for several seconds. Then, as it seemed to grasp his meaning, a shadow passed through its eyes. It lowered its head and released a mournful whimper.

Lu Yibei sat collapsed in the mud for a while. Perhaps the night erosion leaking from Huá Sāng replenished her psychic energy; she soon felt much better and used the rocks to pull herself upright.

Seeing Qing Ji engrossed in “petting the dog” not far away, she arched an eyebrow and stepped forward, only to stagger on her very first step.

Huá Sāng hurriedly caught her and asked in confusion, “You’re already in this condition. You still dare go over there?”

As far as Huá Sāng was concerned, Lu Yibei ought to stay obediently where she was and let Huá Sāng deal with Qing Ji until reinforcements arrived from the Great Pure Palace.

“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Lu Yibei pouted.

“Because…” Huá Sāng hesitated. Looking at Qing Ji, she frowned. “It’s dangerous.”

She had understood something from a very young age: even family members did not necessarily harbor no malice.

It was like opening a blind box with “no returns or exchanges” after purchase.

Whether one received a kind relative like her grandmother or a vicious one like her father depended entirely on one’s luck when that blind box opened at birth.

Besides, Senior “Qing Ji” was now being corrupted by the Codename F haunting. Nothing he did would be surprising.

“Don’t worry…” Lu Yibei waved at Huá Sāng and said with certainty, “Ancestor won’t hurt me.”

Even if he really does want to hurt me, I still have to find some way to convince the old man to help, don’t I?

Lu Yibei drew a deep breath, focused her gaze, and walked toward Qing Ji.

Huá Sāng watched Lu Yibei’s back, bit her lip, and followed.

A short while later…

Lu Yibei stopped beside Qing Ji. After slightly steadying her breathing, she said, “Ancestor, I’d like to ask you for a favor. Would that be all right?”

“At worst, I’ll work hard and give you a great-great-great-grandchild to hold in two or three years.”

Huá Sāng stared at Lu Yibei’s back, looking as though she wanted to speak, her expression tense.

Why was she still spewing trash talk at a time like this?

She was still all alone. How could she possibly give Senior Qing Ji a descendant in only two or three years…?

At that thought, Huá Sāng suddenly remembered the engagement between herself and Lu Yibei. A flush swiftly spread across her face.

At Lu Yibei’s words, Qing Ji drew his gaze back from the distance and smiled playfully. “That last strike didn’t frighten you out of your wits?”

“Of course not…” Lu Yibei replied calmly. “Not only was I unafraid, I should thank you, Ancestor!”

Qing Ji smiled, gave Lu Yibei a sidelong look, and teased, “Silver-tongued brat! Tell me. What favor do you want?”

As he spoke, the unique indulgence of an elder looking at a junior appeared in his eyes.

As expected of Ancestor. He really does love me… Seeing Qing Ji relent, Lu Yibei quietly sighed in relief and explained the sequence of events without expression.

“Ancestor, here’s what happened…”

Lu Yibei briefly summarized what the PL girl had told her and relayed it to Qing Ji.

“Absolutely not!”

When he heard that Lu Yibei wanted him to unleash a full-strength slash toward the strange haunting behind Hu Chuan, Qing Ji’s expression abruptly changed, and he cut her off sternly.

“Why not?” Lu Yibei blurted out, unable to understand why Qing Ji would refuse her.

“…” Realizing he had lost his composure, Qing Ji fell silent for several seconds. Then he looked into Lu Yibei’s eyes and said earnestly, “Do you understand that if I strike with all my strength, this wisp of remnant soul will dissipate?”

“Wait…” Lu Yibei’s eyes widened, and she froze.

Damn that fucking PL girl. Why didn’t she tell me something this important earlier?

“Ancestor, I didn’t know that striking with all your strength would… In that case, forget it. I’ll think of another way.”

Qing Ji glanced at Lu Yibei and waved a hand. “If sacrificing this wisp of remnant soul alone could prevent that haunting from awakening and save countless lives, I would not object. But…”

After a pause, his tone changed. “Do you know why this Pure Lotus Sword fragment, forged into a ferule, was left in the Great Pure Palace?”

Lu Yibei shook her head.

Qing Ji turned to Huá Sāng. “Young friend, do you know?”

Huá Sāng looked at Qing Ji, then at Lu Yibei, and shook her head as well.

“Heh…” Qing Ji shook his head with a bitter smile. “Very well. I shall tell you. I entrusted this fragment to that brat Zhang Huainan for safekeeping. You might say it was abandoned in the Great Pure Palace.”

“Abandoned? Why?” Lu Yibei asked in surprise.

“You want to know?”

Lu Yibei nodded.

“…” Qing Ji lowered his eyes and pondered for several seconds. Then, as though making a decision, he straightened his back, looked ahead, and said with remembrance on his face, “Very well! Then I shall tell you…”